Development of Japanese versions of the Daydream Frequency Scale and the Mind Wandering Questionnaire
Open accessAbstract
This study developed and examined the validity of Japanese versions of the Daydream Frequency Scale (DDFS) and the Mind Wandering Questionnaire (MWQ), which measures propensity for spontaneous thoughts and mind wandering, respectively. In Study 1, we translated the items of the DDFS and the MWQ into Japanese and verified their validity. In Study 2, we confirmed the correlation of both scales with mind wandering, as measured by thought sampling during an attention-demanding task. These two studies revealed a dissociation between the properties of the scales; while DDFS reflects propensity for spontaneous thoughts, MWQ specifically reflects propensity for mind,wandering. We discuss the usefulness of the DDFS and the MWQ for studying the psychological functions of spontaneous thoughts and mind wandering.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The Japanese-translated version of the Mind-Wandering Questionnaire has construct validity and internal consistency.
“This questionnaire assesses the frequency of the interruption of task-focus (distraction) by task-unrelated thought (five items; e.g., “I mind-wander during lectures or presentations”) and has construct validity and internal consistency [72, 73].”
The Japanese version of the Mind Wandering Questionnaire has confirmed validity and reliability.
“The validity and reliability of this scale have been confirmed [26].”
From Changes in depression and anxiety through mindfulness group therapy in Japan: The role of mindfulness and self-compassion as possible mediators (2019) · cites this paper as [26]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Wandering minds: the default network and stimulus-independent thought
Mason, M. F., Norton, M. I., Van Horn, J. D., Wegner, D. M., Grafton, S. T., & Macrae, C. N. (2007) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1131295 · Cited by 2,792 · see citing works
A wandering mind is an unhappy mind
Killingsworth, M. A., & Gilbert, D. T. (2010) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1192439 · Cited by 2,575 · see citing works
Christoff, K., Gordon, A. M., Smallwood, J., Smith, R., & Schooler, J. W. (2009) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0900234106 · Cited by 1,769 · see citing works
The Science of Mind Wandering: Empirically Navigating the Stream of Consciousness
Smallwood, J., & Schooler, J. W. (2015) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev-psych-010814-015331 · Cited by 1,685 · see citing works
McVay, J. C., & Kane, M. J. (2009) · Journal of Experimental Psychology Learning Memory and Cognition · doi:10.1037/a0014104 · Cited by 774 · see citing works
Mindfulness and mind-wandering: finding convergence through opposing constructs
Mrazek, M. D., Smallwood, J., & Schooler, J. W. (2012) · Emotion · doi:10.1037/a0026678 · Cited by 600 · see citing works
Depression, rumination and the default network
Berman, M. G., Peltier, S., Nee, D. E., Kross, E., Deldin, P. J., & Jonides, J. (2011) · Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience · doi:10.1093/scan/nsq080 · Cited by 568 · see citing works
Mrazek, M. D., Phillips, D. T., Franklin, M. S., Broadway, J. M., & Schooler, J. W. (2013) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00560 · Cited by 400 · see citing works
Smallwood, J., Fishman, D. J. F., & Schooler, J. W. (2007) · Psychonomic Bulletin & Review · doi:10.3758/bf03194057 · Cited by 388 · see citing works
Nilli Lavie, C., & Cox, S. G. (1997) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.1997.tb00432.x · Cited by 381 · see citing works
Dynamic functional connectivity of the default mode network tracks daydreaming
Kucyi, A., & Davis, K. D. (2014) · NeuroImage · doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2014.06.044 · Cited by 355 · see citing works
Barron, E., Riby, L. M., Greer, J. M. H., & Smallwood, J. (2011) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/0956797611404083 · Cited by 279 · see citing works
Mind Wandering Behind the Wheel
Hu, J., Becic, E., Lee, Y., & McCarley, J. S. (2011) · Human Factors The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society · doi:10.1177/0018720810391530 · Cited by 243 · see citing works
A Japanese version of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Translation and equivalence assessment
Mimura, C., & Griffiths, P. (2007) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2006.11.004 · Cited by 205 · see citing works
The Decoupled Mind: Mind-wandering Disrupts Cortical Phase-locking to Perceptual Events
Baird, B., Smallwood, J., Antoine Lutz, A., & Schooler, J. W. (2014) · Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience · doi:10.1162/jocn_a_00656 · Cited by 170 · see citing works
Forster, S., Núñez-Elizalde, A. O., Castle, E., & Bishop, S. J. (2013) · Cerebral Cortex · doi:10.1093/cercor/bht248 · Cited by 143 · see citing works
Giambra, L. M. (1993) · Experimental Gerontology · doi:10.1016/0531-5565(93)90073-m · Cited by 125 · see citing works
Distracted by your mind? Individual differences in distractibility predict mind wandering.
Forster, S., & Nilli Lavie, C. (2013) · Journal of Experimental Psychology Learning Memory and Cognition · doi:10.1037/a0034108 · Cited by 99 · see citing works
Mind Wandering, Sleep Quality, Affect and Chronotype: An Exploratory Study
Carciofo, R., Du, F., Song, N., & Zhang, K. (2014) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0091285 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Self-generated thoughts and depression: from daydreaming to depressive symptoms
Marchetti, I., de Putte, E. V., & Koster, E. H. W. (2014) · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnhum.2014.00131 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Smallwood, J., Fishman, D. J., & Schooler, J. W. (2007). Counting the cost of an absent mind: Mind wandering as an underrecognized influence. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 14, 230 -236.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Takahashi, T., Sugiyama, F., Kikai, T., Kawashima, I., Guan, S., Oguchi, M., Uchida, T., & Kumano, H. (2019) · BioPsychoSocial Medicine · doi:10.1186/s13030-019-0145-4 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
“The validity and reliability of this scale have been confirmed [26].”
BackgroundMethodMind wandering in creative problem-solving: Relationships with divergent thinking and mental health
Yamaoka, A., & Yukawa, S. (2020) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0231946 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
What are the benefits of mind wandering to creativity?
Murray, S. F., Liang, N., Brosowsky, N. P., & Seli, P. (2021) · Psychology of Aesthetics Creativity and the Arts · doi:10.1037/aca0000420 · Cited by 52 · see citing works
Kuroda, Y., Yamakawa, O., & Ito, M. (2022) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-022-00746-3 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Does Mind Wandering During the Thought Incubation Period Improve Creativity and Worsen Mood?
Yamaoka, A., & Yukawa, S. (2019) · Psychological Reports · doi:10.1177/0033294119896039 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Mind wandering in anxiety disorders: A status report
Fell, J., Chaieb, L., & Hoppe, C. (2023) · Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105432 · Cited by 42 · see citing works
The Validity and Reliability of the Short Form of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Japan
Takahashi, T., Saito, J., Fujino, M., Sato, M., & Kumano, H. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.833381 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
The association of motivation with mind wandering in trait and state levels
Kawagoe, T., Onoda, K., & Yamaguchi, S. (2020) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0237461 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Takahashi, T., Kikai, T., Sugiyama, F., Kawashima, I., Kuroda, A., Usui, K., Maeda, W., Uchida, T., Guan, S., Oguchi, M., et al. (2020) · Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy · doi:10.1891/jcpsy-d-19-00015 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Translation and validation of the Mind-Wandering Test for Spanish adolescents
Salavera, C., Urcola‐Pardo, F., Supervía, P. U., & Jarie, L. (2017) · Psicologia Reflexão e Crítica · doi:10.1186/s41155-017-0066-8 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Curiosity makes your mind wander: Effects of epistemic curiosity and trait anxiety on mind wandering
Sekiguchi, T. (2022) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2022.112069 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Yamaoka, A., & Yukawa, S. (2019) · The Japanese Journal of Educational Psychology · doi:10.5926/jjep.67.118 · Cited by 12 · see citing works
Kawagoe, T. (2022) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-022-09824-3 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Current issues in assessment of listening difficulties
Obuchi, C. (2023) · AUDIOLOGY JAPAN · doi:10.4295/audiology.66.221 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Huang, Y., Song, X., & Ye, Q. (2024) · Thinking Skills and Creativity · doi:10.1016/j.tsc.2024.101499 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
The Current Status of Personality Research in Japan
Watanabe, Y. (2018) · The Annual Report of Educational Psychology in Japan · doi:10.5926/arepj.57.79 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Application of Test Theory in Study and Practice :
Kawahashi, I. (2017) · The Annual Report of Educational Psychology in Japan · doi:10.5926/arepj.56.137 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
A Review of Developmental Studies on Adolescence
Satoh, Y. (2017) · The Annual Report of Educational Psychology in Japan · doi:10.5926/arepj.56.24 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Kawagoe, T., Yoshimura, S., Muranaka, S., Xethakis, L. J., & Onoda, K. (2024) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2023.112539 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Croatian Translation and Validation of the Mind-Wandering Questionnaire (MWQ)
Kovačević, M. P., Ćurković, M., Gorjanski, D., & Matić, I. (2020) · Psihologijske teme · doi:10.31820/pt.29.3.4 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Trends and Issues in the Field of Clinical Psychology
Takahashi, M. (2017) · The Annual Report of Educational Psychology in Japan · doi:10.5926/arepj.56.98 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Sakuragi, M., & Umeda, S. (2025) · Acta Psychologica · doi:10.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105931 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Krukow, P. (2022) · Current Problems of Psychiatry · doi:10.2478/cpp-2022-0007 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Mind Wandering in Relation to Creativity and Depression
Yamaoka, A., & Yukawa, S. (2019) · The Japanese Journal of Educational Psychology · doi:10.5926/jjep.67.73 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Peloso, F. C., Zibetti, M. R., Nardi, A. E., & Catelan, R. F. (2023) · Brazilian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.47626/1516-4446-2023-3312 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
How Do Implicit Theories of Mind Wandering Relate to Mind Wandering as Experienced in Everyday Life?
Hattori, Y., Kobayashi, M., Matsumoto, N., & Kawaguchi, J. (2025) · Japanese Psychological Research · doi:10.1111/jpr.70010 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Mind-Wandering in Adolescents With ADHD: A Comparative Study
Ogata, H., Nakane, E., Kondo, C., Saima, S., & Ihara, H. (2025) · Journal of Attention Disorders · doi:10.1177/10870547251385660 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Kajimura, S., Nozaki, Y., Goto, T., & Smallwood, J. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.904025 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citationHayashi, W., Tomita, A., & Iwanami, A. (2022) · Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences Reports · doi:10.1002/pcn5.19 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Differences in Mind-wandering Tendencies between Creative Professionals and General Workers
Yamaoka, A. (2022) · The Japanese Journal of Personality · doi:10.2132/personality.31.2.1 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Hattori, Y., Kobayashi, M., Matsumoto, N., & Kawaguchi, J. (2023) · The Japanese journal of psychology · doi:10.4992/jjpsy.94.22221 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
No relationships between frequencies of mind-wandering and perceptual rivalry
Hidaka, S., Takeshima, M., & Kawagoe, T. (2023) · i-Perception · doi:10.1177/20416695231214888 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Sakuragi, M., & Umeda, S. (2025) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2025.03.17.643435
A primer on meta-awareness of mind wandering in schizotypy and schizophrenia
Garg, A., Watt, B. D., Haj, M. E., & Moustafa, A. A. (2025) · Psychological Research · doi:10.1007/s00426-025-02172-7
Kawagoe, T., Onoda, K., & Yoshimura, S. (2026) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-026-04517-2
Umeda, A., & Ohtsuki, T. (2025) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1687442
Skorupski, M. S., Krejtz, I., & Kornacka, M. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1694756 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Evaluation of the Daydream Frequency Scale
Matos, C. C., Pinho, B. T., Ginani, G. E., de Figueiredo, T. C., & Pinto, A. L. D. C. B. (2026) · Psico-USF · doi:10.1590/14138271202631e296228
- Authors
- Kajimura, S., & Nomura, M.
- Affiliations
- Kyoto University (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Nomura, Michio
- Venue
- The Japanese journal of psychology
- Published
- 2016
- Volume
- 87
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 79-88
- ISSN
- 0021-5236 (ISSN-L)
- 1884-1082
- OpenAlex
- W2343881401
- Cited by
- 38
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 4
- FWCI
- 1.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- diamond
- doi.org
- Locations
- The Japanese journal of psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (14J05285, 16H01727)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Mind wandering and attention
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Functions and Memory
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Flow Experience in Various Fields
- Keywords
- mind wandering, spontaneous thought, scale translation, Japanese adaptation, psychometric validation, attention-demanding tasks
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Fantasy, Female, Humans, Male, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Thinking, Asian People, Young Adult
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
